New Studies Investigate Risk Factors for Autism

A study published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine on Tuesday found that counties with high precipitation levels have higher autism rates. Meanwhile, a study in last month's American Journal of Epidemiology indicates that the first-born children of older parents are more likely to have autism than their siblings or children of younger parents.

• "Study: Counties With More Rainfall Have Higher Autism Rates" (Rubin, USA Today, 11/4).
• "Study Links Parental Age to Increased Risk of Autism" (Zimmerman, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 11/2).